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World Breastfeeding Week – Day 2 – Positive Public Breastfeeding

Thanks for hopping over from Monkey and Mouse and welcome to my post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 2 Positive Public Feeding. We have over £700 worth of breastfeeding and baby goodies up for grabs including prizes from Snoob with a breastfeeding scarf, a goodie bag from Forever Patricia and a breastfeeding necklace from Booby and the Bead. Full details of the Grand Prize can be found here and all entries are to be completed via the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post.

Positive Public Breastfeeding

When I my first son was a newborn, I remember thinking, “What will I do when we go out? How will I feed him? What if people get cross with me? Should I express and take a bottle instead?”

About a fortnight after he was born, we popped to Pizza Express with Ian and my two stepchildren. I did try taking a bottle of expressed milk out with me, but my baby was having none of it. He cried and rooted around looking for a breast. So, with flushed cheeks I breastfed him and prayed that nobody would complain.

No-one said anything to me. Nobody looked. I don’t think anyone even noticed.

I felt slightly more confident but I was still a little shy so I bought a breastfeeding cover. It gave me a bit more confidence but my baby flapped and fussed and that drew attention to me more than breastfeeding itself. So after a week of using it, I decided to breastfeed without it.

And still, no-one said anything to me. Maybe the odd smile from other mums.

I believe that the negative stories we read in the media about breastfeeding in public are rare. That’s why they are written about. “MOTHER FEEDS BABY IN COSTA AND NOBODY CARES” simply wouldn’t sell newspapers or get clicks. Yet that happens day in, day out. Mothers are feeding their babies wherever and whenever and 99.9% of the time the rest of the general public just get on with their business.

My first son was breastfed until 19 months old. He stopped wanted feeds in public when he was around a year old but still, in all that time I did not receive a single comment, look or stare.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. With my second baby, I skipped expressing [apart from for the milk bank] and skipped the breastfeeding covers. I simply feed him when he needs it. I do what suits him and I, armed with the knowledge that nobody actually cares. If anything, maybe I’m showing other mums that it is absolutely fine to breastfeed in public and giving someone else the confidence to breastfeed in public too.

And if a situation was to arise where someone had a problem with it, I know I’m protected by the Equality Act 2010. Babies can be breastfed anywhere in any public area.

Here are my top 5 tips for having a positive public breastfeeding experience:

1. Try breastfeeding at home in front of a mirror so you can get an idea of what other people can see. It will surprise you!2. A breastfeeding cover might help you feel more confident, but don’t feel that you HAVE to use one.3. Baby groups are a great place to practise breastfeeding in public. You will be with other mums who understand just how you feel, and you might make some fab new friends!4. Ignore the newspapers. The stories in the media are very much in the minority. It’s highly unlikely that anyone will have anything negative to say to you. If anything, you’ll be offered a drink!5. Above all else, remember that your right to breastfeed in public is protected by law.

For more positive feeding in public experiences please hop on over to Mum Without Wheels where you can gain further entries into the grand prize draw. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Keeping Britain Breastfeeding website. UK residents only.

I found the first latch with my daughter 9.5 years ago relatively easy, but I just couldn't do it after that. I tried expressing but gave up after just 2 weeks so have no experience of feeding in public. Have regretted it ever since and am more determined than ever to get it right with number 2. Due in 10 weeks and hoping to feed until at least 6 months, hopefully a year this time :)

What a great post, it's so nice to read all of these blog posts which highlight that breastfeeding in public really isn't a drama. Like you have said most of the time it's a smile or noone even notices! I didn't really try to covers as I think Boo wouldn't have liked them and also I wanted to be able to see her =)

I've been breastfeeding my daughter in public for 4.5 years, and mostly it's been fine. Had an issue at a swimming pool in Bristol, and a couple of comments on the bus about her being too old (when she was 2), but either I am oblivious to negativity, or nobody is bothered!

I have had a couple of comments whilst feeding my son. A group of older ladies came over and said that it was so nice to see me using a breastfeeding cover to give the baby some privacy. Which was a bit odd - as clearly the baby didnt care about his privacy and they had obviously been looking at me. I just brushed it off as a bit odd and carried on. As he got older though and didnt want the cover on i become more cautious about bf in public. Going to bf support group has been excellent for me for confidence giving.

I didn't notice any disapproving looks, but who knows? Maybe that's because I'm rather short-sighted. I remember breastfeeding in Mcdonalds in Wrexham, and I'm sure I would have in other places too. No big drama, just a baby feeding.